AI agent approval policy template

Core fields

Keep approval rules structured enough that an agent, workflow engine, or gateway can evaluate them without reading prose. A minimal policy should include the action type, environment, data sensitivity, impact, reversibility, confidence threshold, reviewer role, timeout, and default outcome.

{
  "policy_id": "production-data-write",
  "action_type": "data_write",
  "environment": "production",
  "data_sensitivity": "internal",
  "maximum_impact": "medium",
  "reversibility": "partially_reversible",
  "minimum_confidence": 0.9,
  "decision": "require_human_review",
  "reviewer_role": "service_owner",
  "timeout_minutes": 30,
  "timeout_result": "deny",
  "audit_required": true
}

Recommended review triggers

• Production deletes, data writes, permission changes, or customer-visible messages
• Any action that touches regulated, confidential, or credential-bearing data
• Financial actions including purchases, refunds, payouts, and subscription changes
• Actions that are irreversible or expensive to roll back
• Low-confidence actions where the agent cannot explain a rollback plan

Default outcomes

Use allow for low-risk read-only actions, require_human_review for reversible but meaningful side effects, and deny for irreversible high-impact actions unless a separate emergency process exists. An unanswered approval should expire to deny.

Reviewer instructions

The reviewer should see the proposed action, target resource, expected effect, risk factors, agent confidence, rollback plan, and relevant evidence. Do not send secrets or unrelated customer data in the notification card.